PurposeTo determine whether elevation of HDL cholesterol and reduction of triglycerides by bezafibrate can reduce fatal and nonfatal MI, and sudden death attributable to atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Secondary, to investigate the effect of therapy on total mortality, unstable angina pectoris, PTCA and CABG

ResultsIn the bezafibrate group, HDL cholesterol increased by 18% and triglycerides decreased by 21%. Fatal or nonfatal MI, or sudden death occurred in 13.6% in the bezafibrate group vs 15.0% in the placebo group (p = 0.26). In the subgroup of patients with high baseline triglyceride levels (≥ 200 mg/dl), the reduction in cumulative probability of fatal or nonfatal MI, or sudden death in the bezafibrate group was 39.5% (p = 0.02)